PMRC argues that digital financing offers a powerful way to overcome the long-standing credit constraints faced by SMEs and rural female farmers in Zambia. Traditional financial institutions often exclude these groups due to high transaction costs, lack of collateral, and limited credit history. Digital financial services, by contrast, reduce costs through automation, offer more accessible loan products, and allow borrowers to build transaction-based credit histories using mobile money and internet platforms. The report highlights how fintechs elsewhere (like JUMO in South Africa, MyBank in China, and platforms such as Kabbage and Amazon Lending) have successfully used technology — including artificial intelligence — to assess risk and extend credit to underserved enterprises. These models offer lessons for Zambia, especially in investing in connectivity, building partnerships between fintechs, mobile operators, and traditional banks, and creating localized digital lending platforms. For women in agriculture, digital finance can improve access to savings, credit, payment systems and advisory services. This is especially important because female smallholder farmers often lack collateral, face difficult market access, and are more financially excluded than men. The report recommends tailored digital products, stronger linkages to value chains, capacity building in digital financial literacy, and public‑private partnerships. By doing so, digital financing can stimulate SME growth and empower women farmers, helping to drive more inclusive economic development.